Help Women of Newport send donations for Ukraine

Hi there - I'm Kamila, and I lead the group Women of Newport. Set up in 2019, it started as a community-based project showcasing, supporting and celebrating wonderful women in our city through the medium of photography. Since the war in Ukraine, it has developed into something much more - it has brought together communities across Wales and allowed us to support friends and loved ones fleeing from conflict in Europe.

We started out supporting "Polonia dla Ukrainy" (translating as Polish community for Ukraine) by helping to organise collections of necessary items for Ukrainians in Newport, to transport on to Poland to give to refugees. We thought we would fill two rooms maximum of donations. But the response we had was phenomenal.

In 2 weeks, we have taken in donations from across Wales (as far west as Pembrokeshire, as north as Brecon, and as east as Chepstow). We have contributions stashed in places around Newport, with much more due to be delivered in the coming weeks. Already we have helped ship 7 tonnes of your donations through charitable partners to London on to Poland, who have in turn got essential supplies to refugees and medical supplies to the heart of Ukraine. We thought we could arrange this all ourselves. We thought only to help our families in Poland and Ukraine. Now we are helping communities across Wales to reach people across Europe. The support you have given has been phenomenal.

We have an army of volunteers who have helped move, sort and package donations. We have paid for what we can out of our own pockets, and honestly, we are grateful for everyone who has given time, energy and resources to make this happen. However, now we need to cover costs like petrol, food, and expenses for the volunteers who help us make our help for Ukraine as sustainable as possible. Having had such a supportive and caring response, we must ask for your help once more.

IMPORTANT - Money raised through this Go Fund Me campaign will not go to those fleeing the war in Ukraine. It will support the volunteers organising the donations you have given to Women of Newport, covering costs like petrol, food, road charges, hire fees etc.

It will mean we can continue to give this aid to people fleeing the conflict for longer and get it there faster and ensure that none of those who voluntarily give more than they can afford.

Please help - any amount you give will make a huge difference.

Thank you for the support you have already given the people of Ukraine and us. Thank you for helping us support those fleeing this terrible, senseless war.